Acetylene-gas generator.



Patented June [7, I902.

n u. TREIDHLER. ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

I (Application filed July 6, 1901.) I (I0 Model.) 2 Shoals-Sheet I.

m: lmmus Pmns 1:0,. woroumcx, wuumowu, u c

No. 702,604.- Patented Jun; I7, 1902.. v 0. H. TBEIGHLEB.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed July 6, 1901.)

2 Sneak-Shut 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL H. TREIOHLER, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK.

ACETYLENE-GAS GEN ERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 702,604, datedJune.17,' 1902.

Application filed July 5, 1901. Serial No. 67,072. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, DANIEL H. TREICHLER,

a citizen of the United States, residing at N iagara Falls, in thecounty of Niagara and State of New York, have inventeda new and usefulImprovement in Acetylene-Generators,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that type of acetylene-generators in which thewater is dripped IO upon the carbid and which is more especiallydesirable for lamps, although the construction is also adapted forgenerators of larger capacity. A generator of this character is shown inmy pending application for patent,

Serial No. 23,645, filed July 14, 1900, and allowed January 22, 1901.

One of the objects of my invention is to so construct the generator thatliability of clogging the passages is reduced to a minimum and that allpassages which are liable to become clogged are easily accessible forcleaning.

Another object of my invention is to so construct the carbid orgenerating chamber 2 5 that the same can be detached from the otherparts of the generator and replaced without necessitating lifting of theentire generator.

Another object of my invention is to improve the means whereby the wateris prevented from reaching the generating-chamber in the event ofupsetting the generator, thereby avoiding dangerous generation of gas.

My invention has the further object to improve the apparatus in variousdetails.

0 lar section at right angles to Fig. land taken through thestand-pipe.Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the generator, the position of this figurecorresponding to Fig. 1. Fig. 4is ahorizontal section in line 4 4, Fig.2. Fig. 5 is a vertical section showing a modification of the meanswherebythe water is prevented from reaching the generating-chamber. Fig.6 is a horizontal section of the same in line 6 6, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is asideelevation of the same,

partly in section, the section being taken in lines 7' 7, Figs. 5 and 6.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the base of the generator; B, the carbid orgeneratingchamber, arranged above the base; 0, the expansion or equalizingchamber,arranged above the generatingchamber; D, the water chamber ortank, ar-

ranged above the equalizing-chamber, and E the purifying-chamber,arranged in the upper part of the water-tank and on one side thereof.

The side of the water-tank opposite to that on which thepurifying-chamber is arranged (1 represents a filling opening or nipple,which is arranged in the inclined shelf 61 and,

which is normally closed by a screw-cap 01 This filling opening isarranged at the intended water-level of the tank, so that the samecannot be filled above the filling-opening, thereby insuring a freespace in the upper part of the tank, which permits the water to rise andfall therein as the generation of gas varies. By forming thefilling-opening of the tank in the inclined shelf (1 the tank can .befilled with water up to the filling-opening without producing bubbles atthe same, because the air is free to escape on the elevated inner sideof the filling-opening as the water reaches the same. When filling thewater-tank of a generator through a filling-opening which is horizontal,the air does not escape freely and bubbles are produced at thefilling-opening, which are liable to deceive the attendant and make itappear that the tank is filled to the proper level when such is not thecase. The atmosphere is permitted to pass into and out of the top of thetank as the water therein rises and falls by means of an opening (1formed inthe top of the tank. The water passes from the watertankdownwardly through a vertical pipe f, extending from the tank to thebase on one side of the equalizing and generating chainbers, thencethrough a horizontal pipe f, extending from the lower end of thevertical pipefunderneath the base and into a sediment-chamber G on theopposite side of the base, thence upwardly through a vertical pipe g,arranged on the opposite side of the carbid and equalizing chambers,into the lower end of a safety vent-pipe H, thence downwardly through avertical pipe 1' on the same side as the pipe g, thence horizontallythrough a pipe t" underneath the base, and thence upwardly through apipe 2 on the same side as the pipe fto the equalizing-chamber. Thepipesfg t' F, in addition to serving as water-conduits from the tank tothe equalizing-chamber, also serve to support the upper parts of thegenerator upon the base independent of the generating-chamber, and theyalso form part of a double water seal between the water-tank and theequalizing-chamber. The vent-pipe H extends from the junction betweenthe upper ends of the pipes g 11 upwardly through the equalizing-chamberand tank and thence inwardly to a sleeve 72., surrounding the burner Jand forming the terminus of the pipe H, so that any gases which escapefrom the ventpipe are conducted to the burner and consumed.

The generating-chamber consists of a fixed sect-ion or collar K, whichis secured to the under side of the equalizing-chamber, and a lowerremovable section or cup K, which is arranged between the fixed sectionand the base. The cupin the normal position of the parts fits into thecollar, and a gas-tight joint is formed between these parts by means ofa packing interposed between opposing flanges k k on the opposing endsof the collar and cup, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The carbidcup is heldfirmly against the collar by means of a clamping-ring 7x resting on thebase and having a screw connection with the lower end of the carbid-cup.The distance between the top of the base and the lower edge of thecollar K is slightly greater than the height of the carbid cup orreceptacle K, so as to permit this cup to be moved laterally forattaching the same to or removing the same from the generator, therebyavoiding lifting the whole generator for emptying and replenishing thegeneratingchamber, as would be the case it the generating-chamber wereremovable from the under side of the base. When it is desired to removethe cup from the generator, the clamping-ring is turned in the properdirection for lowering the cup until the upper end of the cup clears thecollar K. The cup can now be removed laterally, and after the ashes havebeen emptied therefrom and the same has been refilled with a freshcharge of carbid the cup, with the clampingcollar still in a raisedposition thereon, is placed between the base and collar. Upon nowturning the clamping-collar in the opposite direction the cup will beraised and its upper end will be coupled with the collar. In order tofacilitate centering of the cup with reference to the collar, the baseis provided with a raised central portion, forming an annular shoulder75, which fits the inner side of the clamping-collar. By arranging theclamping means at the lower end of the generatingchamber thescrew-threads of the clamping means are not liable to be corroded by theaction of the gas, as would be the case if the clamping means werearranged near the joint between the upper and lower sections of thegenerating chamber. The bottom of the equalizing-chamber and the top ofthe generating-chamber are formed by a single partition l, whichseparates these chambers.

The valve which controls the supply of water to the carbid is arrangedcentrally in the partition Z and consists of a case M, having a verticalpassage m, which opens at its upper end into the equalizing-chamber andat its lower end into the generator-chamber, and a rotary plug on,having a passage which can be moved into and out'of register with thepassage in the case. This plug is secured to the inner end of a stem N,which is arranged in a sleeve n, connecting the valve-case with the sideof the equalizingchamber. The valve-plug is preferably of conical formand is held tightly against its seat on the case by a gland a, whichscrews into the outer end of the sleeve and bears against a shoulder onthe valve-stem. Upon opening the valve the water passes through the samefrom the equalizing-chamber and drips on the carbid in thegenerating-chamber.

0 represents a stand-pipe which extends upwardly from the top of theequalizingchamber through the water-tank and in which the water risesfrom the equalizing-chamber.

P represents the burner-pipe which carries the burner at its upper end.The lower end of the burner-pipe extends through the top of thepurifying-chamber and is provided with a horizontal T, one branch 13 ofwhich opens into the purifying-chamber and the other branch 9' of whichconnects with the upper end of the stand-pipe.

The gas is conducted from the generatingchamber into thepurifying-chamber byagasdelivery conduit consisting of an uprightinlet-pipe g, which extends upwardly from the top of thegenerating-chamber, a trap-coil Q inclosing the upper part of thewater-tank and having its elevated inlet end connected with the upperend of the inlet-pipe q and an outlet-pipe q extending from thedepressed outlet end of the coil Q downwardly into the lower portion ofthe purifying-chamber. As the gas issues from the lower end of theoutlet-pipe q of the gas-delivery conduit it passes upwardly through thecooling and purifying liquid in the lower part of the purifyingchamberinto the gas-space in the upper part of the purifying-chamber. Thecooling and purifying liquid is introduced into and removed from thepurifyingchamber by a filling opening or nipple '1', which is arrangedat the intended liquid-level of the purifyingchamber and is normallyclosed by a cap 0". The diameter of the coilQ is such that when the lampisu'pset the liquid from the purifying-chamber entering the outlet endof the gas-delivery conduit will be unable to pass over that part of thecoil which for the'time is elevated, thereby preventing the liquid fromentering the generating-chamber through the gas-delivery conduit andavoiding dangerous generation of gas. In order to effectually preventany liquid passing from the outlet end ofthe gas-conduit over theelevated part of the coil to the inlet end thereof when the generator isupset, the coil should make at least one complete turn, the coil shownin the drawings having one turn and a quarter. The coil slopes from itsinlet toward its outlet end, which causes the water entering the coilupon upsetting the generator to drain back into the purifying-chamberupon righting the generator. By providing free spaces in the purifyingand water chambers above the liquid-levels in the same these spaces willaccommodate a considerable amount of the liquidsin therespectivechambers when thegenerator is'tipped to one side or upset,thereby reducing the amount of liquid which is liableito'enter thepassages leading to the generating-chamber.

The lower end of the outlet-pipe of the gasdelivery conduit is providedwith a plurality of vertical slits's, which cause the gas to issuetherefromin numerous small bubbles instead of large bubbles, as would bethe case'when the pipe terminates in a plain unbroken end. As thebubbles rise in'the liquid of the purifying-chamber they strike'ahorizontal deflecting plate or disk s,'which isisecured to theoutlet-pipe q above its slitted portion and whereby the bubbles arespread out over a larger area. After passing'the deflected plate andbefore reaching the surface of the liquid in the purifying-chamber thebubbles are still further broken up by a horizontal screen, therebymingling the gas thoroughly with the purifying and cooling liquid andremoving the dirt and moisture-from the gas.

to the outlet end of the gas-conduit and to the wall of thepurifying-chamber, anda removable section t,which fits into a largeopening in the fixed section. The fixed screen-section assists inholding the gas-conduit in place,while the removable section" affordsaccess to the lower part of the purifying-chamber forcleaning the same.By thus breaking the gas up minutelyas it passes from the'outlet of thegasconduit to the burner any sudden variation in the gas-pressure isprevented and a steady and uniform flame is producedat the burner. Thepurified gas passes fromthe upper part of the purifying-chamber into theburner-pipe to the burner and also into the upper end of the stand-pipeand presses downwardly upon the column of water in the same. Atthe sametime that the gas is pressing downwardly on the column of water in thestand-pipe the gas in the generating chamber is pressing upwardlyagainst the column of water in the passage of This screen consists of afixed section 25, which is secured is removably attachedto said branch.

the supply-valve; Inasmuch as the gas from thegenerating-chamber has topass through the liquid in the purifying-chamber before reaching theupper end of the column of water in the stand-pipe this purifying liquidserves as a water-column which reduces the pressure of the gas againstthe upper end of the standpipe column below that against the lower endof the valve water-column. pressure rises above the normal, thepreponderating pressure against thelower end of the valve water-columncauses this columnto be suspended at its lower end or heldback, so thatno more water passes from the equalizing-chamber through said valve intothe generating-chamber, thereby -arresting the generation of gas. Whenthe gas-pressure drops below normal, the water is again permitted toescape from the equalizing-chamber into the generating-chamber and thegeneration of gas is resumed. If anabnormal gas-pressure takes place,the water, in addition to being held back in the valve,-is also presseddownwardly in the water-column and into' the equalizing-chamber. Thelatter being of large area and-comparatively shallow will store aconsiderable amount of gas without materially'varyingthe height of thewaterlevel, thereby insuring a'uniform gas-pressure at the burner. 'Ifan excessive gener ation of gas takes place, the water will be pressedby the gas from the equalizing-chamber backwardly through the pipes i t"'i g, sediment-chamber G, and pipes f f into the end of pipe 2' throughthe vent-pipe H to. the burner. When the'water in the equalizingchamberis pressed below the inlet of the .valve, the flow of water ispositively'cut 01f from the generating-chamber. The height of the watercolumn in the purifying-chamber is preferably equal to the distance fromthe lower end of the valve water column to the lower end of thestand-pipe water column.

water-tank, the gas passing from the upper In order to obtain therequired depth of water in the purifying-chamber and also provide thenecessary space in the same for ac-. commodating the liquid in case thegenerator is upset without utilizing an undueamonnt' of liquid in thechamber, the lower endthere- I of is contracted, while the upper end ismade comparatively wide,-as shown in 'Fig. 2. k

The gas-inlet branch 19 of the burner-pipe is provided with a perforatednippl'e'u, which This nipple permits the gas to pass freely to theburner and stand-pipes, but retards the passage of water from thepurifying-chamber intothe burner and stand-pipes when the generator isupset or shaken.

branch p by a small opening 10', therebyreducing the liability ofgettingany of the im-' The liquid from the purifyingecham-ber is furtherprevented from passing into the stand-pipe by connecting the latter withthe upper part of the T purities from the purifying-chamber into the Istand-pipe, which (the impurities) might be conducted to the valve andclog the same. Any liquid which enters the branches of the burner-pipewhen the generator is upset is again drained back into thepurifying-chamber through the openings in the lower part of the nipple,leaving the openings in the upper part thereof free for the escape ofthe gas. The liability of water entering the burner and stand-pipes isstill further reduced by extending the nipple of the branch pipe 1) tothe center of the purifyingchainber, in which position the nipple wouldmost likely be above the liquid-level upon tipping the generator in anydirection.

The top of the purifying-chamber is provided with an opening throughwhich access may be had to the interior of the purifyingchamber forcleaning the parts therein, said opening being normally closed by acover 1/.

In order to prevent any impurities which may be carried into thestand-pipe from being deposited on the valve and clogging the same, thestand-pipe is arranged out of line with the valve. Inasmuch as the valveis wholly disconnected from the stand-pipe and its inlet opens into theequalizing-chamber,the construction is simplified and the valve can bereadily cleaned.

\Vhen the generator is first started, the water in theequalizing-chamber causes water of condensation to gather on the underside of the partition Z. This condensation in the absence of anyprovision to overcome it would hang in large drops and be precipitatedindiscriminately onto the carbid by the least jolt, perhaps at the mostinopportune moment, as when the gas-pressure has already been excessive.The same effect is alsoliable to be produced by the water ofcondensation which gathers in the inlet-pipe of the gas-delivery conduitand which is liable to drop from the lower end of this conduit upon thecarbid at a point remote from the place where the regular water-supplydrops. Owing to the comparatively small capacity of this type ofgenerators for storing gas, a few drops of water delivered upon thecarbid in excess of the general flow will make a considerable variationin pressure, which is objectionable. It is therefore desirable to causethe water of condensation on the under side of the partition Z and inthe inlet end (1 of the gas-conduit to be conducted to the same pointwhere the regular water-snpply takes place. This is effected by slopingthe partition 1 toward the drip-point '20 at the outlet of the valve andinclining or arranging the lower end of the gas-conduit adjacent to saiddrip-point, as shown in Fig. 1. By this means any water of condensationon the partition or in the lower end of the gas-conduit will beimmediately conducted to the drip point, from which it will drop uponthe moist ashes leading down to the fresh or unconsumed carbid. Thewater of condensation when delivered at this place will have immediateeffect without heating unduly, and the consequent gas produced willcheck the regular flow of water through the valve.

In the modification of the generator shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 thepurifying-chamber is om itted and the safety or trap coil is arrangedbetween the gas-conduit and the stand and burner pipes, but does notnormally act as a part of the gas-conduit. In this construction :0represents the trap-coil, which has the form of an annular chambersurrounding the upper end of the water-tank and which is divided by apartition 00. The gas-pipe 11 and burnerpipe y connect with the upperpart of the coil 00 on one side of the partition, and the upper end ofthe stand-pipe 1/ connects with the lower part of the coil 00 on the,opposite side of the partition, as shown in Fig. 7. Any water which getsinto the coil when the generator is upset cannot pass over the elevatedpart of the coil nor through the gaspipe to the generating-chamber, andthis water is again drained back into the stand-pipe when the generatoris righted. The coil is provided in its upper side at the junction ofthe gas and burner pipes with an opening for cleaning these parts, whichopening is normally closed by a cap I claim as my invention- 1. In anacetylene-generator, the combination with the base, thegenerating-chamber arranged above the base,the equalizing-chamberarranged above the generating-chamber and the water-tank arranged abovethe equalizing-chamber, of a conduit connecting the water-tank with theequalizing-chamber and extending from the Water-tank downwardly on oneside of the generating and equalizing chambers to the base, thencehorizontally underneath the base to the opposite side thereof, thenceupwardly to the equalizing-chamber on the opposite side of thegenerating-chamber, thence downwardly on the same side of thegenerating-chamber to the base, thence horizontally underneath the baseto the firstrnentioned side of the base and thence upwardly on thefirst-mentioned side of the generating-chamber to theequalizing-chamber, substantially as set forth.

2. In an acetylene-generator, the combination with the base and theelevated water-supply tank rigidly connected with the base, of agenerating chamber arranged above the base and detachably connected atits upper end with the water-supply tank, and a clamping device which isarranged Wholly above the base and which is connected with the lower endof the generatin g-cl1amber,substantially as set forth.

3. In an acetylene-generator, the combination with a base having anannular shoulder on its upper side, and an elevated Water-supply tankrigidly connected with the base, of

a generating-chamber having its upper end detachably connected with theWatersupply tank,and a clamping device which is arranged wholly abovethe base and which consists of a rotatable ring having a screwconnection with the lower end of the generating-chamber and bearingagainst the upper side of the base around the annular shoulder'thereof,substantially as setforth.

r 4. In an acetylene-generator, the combination with thegenerating-chamber and the equalizing-chambertof the water-supply tankarranged above the generating-chamber, of a tion with thegenerating-chamberand the gas-delivery conduit connected with thegenerating-chamber, a stand-pipe connected at its lower end with theequalizing-chamberand at its upper end with said conduit, and a valvehaving its inlet opening into the equalizingchamber and its outletopening into the generating-chamber, substantially as set forth.

5. In an acetylene-generator, the combination with the generatingchamber and the equalizing-chamber of the water-supply tank arrangedabove the generating-chamber, of a gas-delivery conduit connected withthe generating-chamber, a stand-pipe connected at its lower end with theequalizing-chamber and at itsupper end with said conduit, and a valvearranged out of line with said standpipe and having its inlet openinginto the equalizing-chamber and its outlet opening intothegeneratingchamber, substantiallyas set forth. i 1

6. In an acetylene-generator, the combination with thegenerating-chamber, and the water-supply tank, of a stand-pipe connectedat its lower end with thewater-supply tank, and a gas-delivery conduitwhich is connected with the generating-chamber and with the upper end ofthe stand-pipe and which containsa coil, substantially as setforth.

7. In an acetylene-generator, the combina tion with thegenerating-chamber, and the water-supply tank, of a stand-pipeconnectedat its lower end with the water-supply tank, and a gas-delivery conduitwhich is connected with the generating-chamber and with the upper end ofthe stand-pipe and which contains a horizontal coil arranged above saidwater-supply tank, substantially as set forth.

8. In an acetylene-generator, the combination with thegenerating-chamber, and-the water-supply tank, ofa stand-pipe connectedat its lower end with the water-supply tank, and a gas-delivery conduithavinga horizontal coil which is arranged above said watersupply tankand which has an elevated inlet connected with the generating-chamberand adepressed outletcommunicating with the upper end of saidstand-pipe, substantially as set forth. j 9. In anacety1ene-generator,the combination with thegeneratingmhainber, of apurifying-chamber, and a gas-conduit connecting the generating-chamberand the purifying chamber and provided between its ends with a coilwhich is arranged outside ofgthe puritying-chamber, substantially as setforth.

10. In an acetylene-generator,the combination with thegenerating-chamber and the water-supply tank, of a stand-pipe connectedat its lower end with the Water-supply tank and with thegenerating-chamber, a purifyin g-chamber connected with the upper end ofthe stand-pipe, and a gas-conduit connecting the generating-chamberandthe purifyingchamber and provided between its ends with a coil which isarranged outside ofthepurifying-c-hamber, substantially as set forth.

11. -In an acetyle ne-.generator,the combinawater-supply tank, of apurifying-chamber having a wide upper part and a contracted opening atits outlet end into the contracted part of the purifying-chamber,substantially ,as set forth. I

12. In an acetylene-generator, the combination with the;generating-chamber and the water-supply tank, of apurifying-chamber, astand-pipe connected with the water-supply tauk and thepurifying-chamber, and a gas.-

delivery conduit :havingits inlet end connected with'thegenerating-chamber and its outlet end extending into the lower part ofthe purifying-chamber and provided with slits, substantially as setforth.

13. In an acetylene-generator, the combina- 1 tion with thegenerating-chamber, andthe vWater-supply tank, of a purifying-chamber,

a stand-pipe connected with the water-supply Y tank and thepurifying-chamber, agas-delivery conduit having its inlet end connectedwith the generating-chamber and having its .outlet end projectingdownwardly into the lower portion of the purifying-chamber, and

a deflectingplate arranged on said outlet within the purifying-chamber,substantially as set forth.

14:. In an acetylene-generator, the combination with thegenerating-chamber.andthe Water-supply tank, of a purifying-chamber, astandqiipe connected with the'water-supply tank and thepurifying-chamber, a gasdelivery conduit, having its inlet endconnectedwith the generating-chamber andhavingits outlet end projectingdownwardlyinto the lower portion of the purifyingschamber, and a screen having afixed section which is secured within the purifying-chamberaround saidoutlet end and a removable section which fits into the fixed section,substantially as set forth. 1 7

1 5. In an acetylene-generator, the combination with the'generatingchamber, and the water-supplytank, of a purifying-chamberhaving an opening in its top which is closed by a cover, a stand-pipeconnected with the water-supply tank and the purifying;chamber, agas=delivery conduit vhaving its inlet end connectedwith thegenerating-chamber and having its outlet end projecting downwardly intothe lower partof the purifying chamber, a deflecting-plate arranged onthe gas-delivery conduit above theoutlet thereof,

and a screen arranged in the purifying-chamher above thedeflecting-plate and consisting of a fixed section and a removablesection constructed to pass through the opening in the top of thepurifying-cl1ainber,substan tially as set forth.

16. In an acetylene-generator, the co1nbination with thegenerating-chamber, the watersupply tank and the purifying-chamber, of agas-delivery conduit connecting the generati'ngchamber and thepurifying-chamber, a stand-pipe connected at its lower end with thewater-supply tank, and a burner -pipe having a branch which opens intothe purifying-chamber and a branch which connects with the upper end ofthe stand-pipe, substantially as set forth.

17. In an acetylene'generat-or, the combination with thegenerating-chamber, the watersupply tank and the purifying-charnber, ofa gas-delivery conduit connecting the generating-chamber and thepurifying-chamber, a stand-pipe connected at its lower end with thewater-supply tank, and a burner-pipe having a branch which connects withthe upper end of the stand-pipe and a branch which extends into thecentral part of the purifyingchamher, substantially as set forth.

18. In an acetylene-generator, the combination with the generatingchau1ber, the watersupply tank and the purifying-chamber, of agas-delivery conduit connecting the generating-chamber and the purifying-chamber, a stand-pipe connected at its lower end with the water-supplytank, a burner-pipe having a branch which connects with the upper end ofthe stand-pipe and a branch which opens into the purifying-chamber, anda perforated nipple arranged in said last'mentioned branch of theburner-pipe, substantially as set forth.

19. In an acetylene-generator, the combination with thegenerating-chamber, the watersupply tank and the purifying-chamber, of agas-delivery conduit connecting the generating-chamber and thepurifying-chamber, a stand-pipe connected at its lower end with thewater-supply tank, a burner-pipe having a branch which connects with theupper end of the stand-pipe and a branch which opens into thepurifying-chamber, a perforated nipple removably arranged in saidlast-mentioned branch of the burner-pipe, and a cover which closes anopening in the top of the purifyingcharnber, substantially as set forth.

WVitness my hand this 1st day of July, 1901.

DANIEL l-I. TREIOHLER. Witnesses:

GUsT. A. NILHUS, I. GOODMAN.

